Formal Analytical Framework

I will be using the formal analytical frame work to analyze the artwork “Bob” by Chuck Close created in 1970. I will be analyzing the artwork using the elements and principles of design, looking at the techniques he has used to create the artwork, exploring what type of style he has used and any metaphors and symbols he may have used in his artwork.

The elements and principles have been applied to this artwork by using elements and principles like tone, emphasis, contrast, form, texture and focal point. Close uses tone to create a dark shade in his artwork, this helps make the artwork seem more realistic. Contrast is a large part of this artwork; it shows the realism in the artwork by having the black on white in different parts of the artwork. The texture of the artwork seems smooth; we can easily see the smoothness of the skin because of the tone and emphasis of the lines in the artwork. The focal point of the image is around his eyes and glasses.

The technique that Close uses is a girding technique. The way Close goes about with his technique is that he will find a photo that he has taken and then will grid the image and then transfer that over to another piece of paper or whatever he chooses to work on. The effect of this technique is that the artwork almost looks exactly the same as the original photo. The artist was trying to portray a general image of himself.

The processes the artist has used to create the artwork are using a camera to capture the image he wants to draw and then gridding the image to blow it up and draw it. The influence of Close’s work is to make photo realistic artworks. The artwork is realistic. What the artist has done with his technique is that he has taken photography to the next step by actually drawing the image in an exact copy of what he had with the image.

The artist hasn’t used any symbols or metaphors in this image, the only symbol that I could figure that would be classed as a symbol would be the fact that the artwork is photo realistic.

In the artwork “Bob” by Chuck Close, we see a range of elements and principles of art, such as tone, emphasis and texture. Due to his gridding technique, it has allowed him to make his artwork to seem realistic. His style of photo realism allows him to use the elements and principles to create this type of artwork.